Musical instrument



Feb. 7,- 1933. R, DOPYERA 1,896,484

MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed Feb, 1, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 PT i m INVENTOR, RUDOLPH DOPYERA ATTORNEY.

INVENTOR.

1933- R. DOPYERA MUSICAL INSTRUMENT 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 1

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII Runown DOPYERH.

ATI'O Fatented Feb. 7, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLPH DOPYERA, LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Application filed February 1, 1932. Serial No. 590,093.-

a novel resonator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument including strings and a supporting bridge and wherein the instrument is provided with a well in which 0 a novel resonator is supported and wherein a novel spider engages the resonator and the bridge.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel resonator for use in a musical instrument.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a musical instrument having a resonator therein and wherein the thickness of the metal constituting the resonator varies 0 at different parts of the resonator to thereby im rove the tone.

ther objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a musical instrument embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 2-2, Fig. 1.

ig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of the guitar with the cover removed.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section taken on line 55, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional 0 detail of the device and o The tail piece 14 may be secured in place by a screw 15, or in any other suitable manner.

Arranged within the body 11, I show a cylindrical wall member 16 which provides a well. This wall member is provided with apertures 17 as shown. Adjacent the top of the cylindrical wall member 16 I provide an annular ring 18 which is disposed adjacent the top 19 of the instrument.

Supported upon the ring 18, I show a resonator indicated generally at 20. This resonator is substantially conical in shape and includes a lower head 21, an inclined wall 22 which merges into the bead 23. The bead 23 merges into a second head 24 and this bead 24 in turn merges into a bead 25 which termi-' nates in an annular flange 26 which engages the ring 18. In the wall 22 of the resonator gGpreferabIy provide a plurality of aperture Mounted on the resonator 20 I show a spider indicated generally at 27. This spider includes a central portion 26 from which radial legs 27 and 27 project. All of the legs are arcuate in cross section and the legs 27* terminate in enlarged downwardly directed feet 28, as shown in Fig. 2. The legs 27 terminate in feet 28 The bottom of the feet 28 correspond to the taper of the body 22 of the resonator and these feet have their lower ends spaced from the tops of ribs 30.

The feet 28 as shown in Fig. 5, engage the top of ribs 30". The ribs 30 and 30 are preferably pressed from the metal constituting the resonator and as shown are of the greatest depth nearest the spider and decrease in depth towards the head 21. The legs 27" and 27 b are connected by webs 27 which are arcuate in cross section. In certain instances I may desire to make all of the feet like the feet 28 and all of the ribs like the ribs 30 or I may make all of the feet like the feet 28 and all of the ribs like the ribs 30".

The head 21 is connected by a hollow spacer 31 with the bridge by means of a bolt 32 which has a nut 33 thereon.

The spider includes a boss 34 which protop 19 of the musical instrument. The strings pass through an aperture 38 provided by a stuck up portion 39 on the cover.

In order to improve the tone, I preferably make the resonator of metal or other material, the thickness of which varies radially. As shown the variation in thickness begins at the point 40 indicated by the arrow in Fig.

'3 and the thickness increases from this point towards the head 21 gradually and also increases from the point 40 outwardly towards the flange 26 more rapidly than it' increases inwardly. 1 l i The spacer 31 is preferably slitted longitudinally as shown at 41 and these slits increase-the resiliency of the tube and thus act in conjunction with the resonator to increase the tone. I

member 54 I provide an annular ring '56, and

supported upon this ring, I show a resonator indicated generally at 57. This resonator is substantially conical in shape and includes a lower head 58, and an inclined wall 59 which merges into the bead 60. The bead 6O merges into a second bead 61 and this bead 61 merges into rolled edge 62. In the wall 59 of the resonator I preferably provide a plurality oi' apertures 62. a

The edge 62 engages the top of a U-shaped resilient metal ring 63, the lower edge of which engages the ring 56; The ring 63 has top and bottom flanges 64 and 65 to give it rigidity. Mounted on the resonator 57 I .show aspider indicated generally at 66.

This spider includes a central portion 67 from which radial legs 67 and 67* project. The legs 67 engage the resonator 57 above the ends; of ribs 68 while the legs 67 engage the ends of ribs 68*. It will be understood that the legs 6" and 67 are similar to the legs 27 and 27* previously described an d, that the spider herein described and the resonator parts associated" with thisspider are similar to those described in connection with Figs. 1 to 5 previously described. r

' The head 58 is connected to the bridge by a hollow spacer 70 which is slitted as at 71. The spacer is held in place by means of a bolt 72 which has a nut 7 3 thereon.

The spider includes a boss 74: which projects upwardly therefrom and is recessed to receive a bridge 75 against which the strings engage. 7

The well 16 is closed by a cover which is similar to the cover 36 previously described.

In order to improve the tone, I preferably make the modified resonator of material, the

thickness of which varies. As shown the variation in thickness begins, at the point indicated by the arrow in Fi 7 and the thickness increase from this point towards the head 58 gradually and also increases from the point 86 outwardly towards the flange bead 62 more rapidly than it does inwardly.

From-the foregoing description it will be apparent that I have provided an improved musical instrument which can be economically manufactured, which is highly eiiicient in useand which is sweet toned.

Having" thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. A musical instrument comprising a hol low body having a well, an annular ring arranged in said well, and a conical metallic resonator supported on said ring and directed downwardly, said resonator having radial ribs thereon, said ribs being of decreasing depth downwardly.

2. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body having a resonator thereon radial ribson said resonator, and a spider engaging said resonator and said ribs.

3. A. musical instrument comprising a body having strings supported thereon, a resonatengaging said support, said resonator hav-' mg a plurality of ribs therein, said ribs being of increasing depth in one direction.

6. A musical instrument comprising a body, having a resonator mounted thereon, strings on said body, ribs on said resonator, a bead on said resonator, a spider engaging said resonator and free from engagement with said bead and means engaging said spider and strings for communicating vibrations from the strings to the resonator;

7. A stringed musical instrument comprising a body having a resonator mounted thereon, strings on said body, radial ribs on said resonator, a spider engaging said ribs and means engaging said spider and strings for communicating vibrations from the strings to the resonator. I

8. A musical instrument comprising a body having a supporting portion therein, a resilientmember on said portion, a resonator engaging saidresilient portion, a spider engaging said resonator, strings supported on said body and means engaging said strings and said spider to transfer vibrations from strings to said resonator.

9. A musical instrument comprising a body having a well therein, a ring in said well to form a ledge, a resonator having on its base a peripheral flange directly engaging said ledge, ribs on said resonator, a spider engaging said resonator between said bead and ribs, strings operatively supported over the top of said body and means engaging said strings and said spider to transfer vibrations from strings to said resonator.

10. A musical instrument, a body having a well therein, a ring in said well to form a ledge, a resonator having on its base a peripheral bead mounted on said ledge, ribs on said resonator, a spider engaging said resonator between said bead and ribs, strings 0peratively supported over the top of said body and means engaging said strings and said spider to transfer vibrations from strings to said resonator.

11. A musical instrument comprising a body having a supporting member therein a resonator supported on said support, said resonator having a plurality of IlbS therein, said ribs being of increasing depth in one direction, a spider including spaced legs having feet, a post connecting the said resonator and said spider, a bridge on said spider and means to hold strings in tension against said bridge whereby the vibrations of said strings will be transferred through said spider to said resonator.

12. A musical vinstrument comprising a hollow body having a Well, a metallic resonator supported in said well said resonator having radial ribs thereon, said ribs being of decreasing depth downwardly, a spider engaging said resonator and including legs and a. central portion, said legs having feet thereon engaging said resonator, strings stretched over said body, and a bridge engaging the upper portion of said resonator at its inner side and said strings for holding the strings and the resonator in tension whereby vibrations may be transmitted from the strings to the resonator.

13. A resonator including a body having a beaded peripheral portion and having a conical central portion, spaced ribs on said body, said ribs being of decreasing depth in one direction and said ribs terminating short of said bead.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature.

RUDOLPH DOPYERA. 

